1. Describe the stasis in the play: where, when, who, what, etc. in a paragraph.
This play takes place during the early 80s during the onset of the AIDS epidemic among gay men. Some of the main characters, Dr. Emma Brookner, a rather brash and blunt woman who advocates strongly that gay men cease sexual encounter until they find out the cause of the epidemic; Another main character includes Ned Weeks, a concerned, pissed-off and brutish man who is adamant that people acknowledge the problems happening in their society; and Felix who is Ned's boyfriend.
2. What is the intrusion?
The intrusion in his plat happens when Felix, Ned's lover shows signs of AIDS. This put a fire under Ned who became even more encourage to help with the fight in avocation for AIDS victims.With the threat happening so close to Ned he became much more sensitive to the subject and polarized.
3. What is the unique factor?
This is the day that the audience and the character Ned find out just how bad the AIDS epidemic has gotten. This is the day that Ned meets Dr.Emma and he he becomes an advocate for the AIDS epidemic.
4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play?
Will Ned be able to help the awareness of AIDS?
Will there ever be a cure for AIDS?
Will the AIDS epidemic continue to get worse?
5. Provide an illustration of the two kinds of exposition that the play has in it.
The first part of exposition in this play is that the audience knows what the mysterious and unknown virus is while the play for the characters is happening in the present, for the audience
this play is in that past so we are fully aware of the history behind the epidemic. The second exposition is when both the characters and the audience are fully aware of the severity of the AIDS epidemic and just how many people it affects.
6. Identify the most theatrical moment in the play and of what importance it seems to be.
I think the most theatrical moment was the ending scene where Felix was dying from the virus and Dr. Emma was reciting a wedding ceremony. This scene was extremely powerful, as for the most part this was the experience of many gay men during this time. Many of their friends of lovers would pass in their arms and there was nothing they could do about it. This brings the cold reality to the forefront, the actual visualization of these awful events is very touching and makes the audience feel for Felix and Ned.
7. List some of the themes of the play.
Disease. Loss. Inequality. Love. Sexual Promiscuity.
8. What does Ned want and what are some obstacles that stand in the way of his getting what he wants?
I think Ned's main goal is to make people in the gay community and otherwise more aware of the AIDS epidemic, and to get them to move into action. For Ned, his biggest obstacle to achieving his goal is his rash and angry personality often it puts people off. This was an obstacle in the organization he created as he was booted off. Another obstacle is the task at hand as its nearly if not impossible to tell and entire group of people to not have sex, especially the gay community. One might make the argument that sex for gay men is sort of a protest against the heteronomativity of society.
9. Describe some possible images in the play and how does the title help us understand the play.
I think the title helps us understand the text better because it's a comment on how being a homosexual is no different than being heterosexual, we all have the same emotions, the same feelings, the same love if you will. Not only does this play seek to inform about the AIDS epidemic but also to enlighten people on what being gay is actually like. With AIDS we saw a twisted perspective of the gay community and normal heart seeks to change this view, to normalize the heart.
10. Briefly define the family relationships that are examined in the play.
In this play we see Ned and his brother Ben in a tough spot, for much of the play Ben is very supportive of his brother's lifestyle. He fights with him a lot and even says he considers Ned to have some sort of mental illness. After Ben buys a 2 million dollar home him and Ned have a big argument ending with Ned claiming that he'll never speak to him again. However towards the end we see a glimpse of hope when they come together after Felix dies.
This play takes place during the early 80s during the onset of the AIDS epidemic among gay men. Some of the main characters, Dr. Emma Brookner, a rather brash and blunt woman who advocates strongly that gay men cease sexual encounter until they find out the cause of the epidemic; Another main character includes Ned Weeks, a concerned, pissed-off and brutish man who is adamant that people acknowledge the problems happening in their society; and Felix who is Ned's boyfriend.
2. What is the intrusion?
The intrusion in his plat happens when Felix, Ned's lover shows signs of AIDS. This put a fire under Ned who became even more encourage to help with the fight in avocation for AIDS victims.With the threat happening so close to Ned he became much more sensitive to the subject and polarized.
3. What is the unique factor?
This is the day that the audience and the character Ned find out just how bad the AIDS epidemic has gotten. This is the day that Ned meets Dr.Emma and he he becomes an advocate for the AIDS epidemic.
4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play?
Will Ned be able to help the awareness of AIDS?
Will there ever be a cure for AIDS?
Will the AIDS epidemic continue to get worse?
5. Provide an illustration of the two kinds of exposition that the play has in it.
The first part of exposition in this play is that the audience knows what the mysterious and unknown virus is while the play for the characters is happening in the present, for the audience
this play is in that past so we are fully aware of the history behind the epidemic. The second exposition is when both the characters and the audience are fully aware of the severity of the AIDS epidemic and just how many people it affects.
6. Identify the most theatrical moment in the play and of what importance it seems to be.
I think the most theatrical moment was the ending scene where Felix was dying from the virus and Dr. Emma was reciting a wedding ceremony. This scene was extremely powerful, as for the most part this was the experience of many gay men during this time. Many of their friends of lovers would pass in their arms and there was nothing they could do about it. This brings the cold reality to the forefront, the actual visualization of these awful events is very touching and makes the audience feel for Felix and Ned.
7. List some of the themes of the play.
Disease. Loss. Inequality. Love. Sexual Promiscuity.
8. What does Ned want and what are some obstacles that stand in the way of his getting what he wants?
I think Ned's main goal is to make people in the gay community and otherwise more aware of the AIDS epidemic, and to get them to move into action. For Ned, his biggest obstacle to achieving his goal is his rash and angry personality often it puts people off. This was an obstacle in the organization he created as he was booted off. Another obstacle is the task at hand as its nearly if not impossible to tell and entire group of people to not have sex, especially the gay community. One might make the argument that sex for gay men is sort of a protest against the heteronomativity of society.
9. Describe some possible images in the play and how does the title help us understand the play.
I think the title helps us understand the text better because it's a comment on how being a homosexual is no different than being heterosexual, we all have the same emotions, the same feelings, the same love if you will. Not only does this play seek to inform about the AIDS epidemic but also to enlighten people on what being gay is actually like. With AIDS we saw a twisted perspective of the gay community and normal heart seeks to change this view, to normalize the heart.
10. Briefly define the family relationships that are examined in the play.
In this play we see Ned and his brother Ben in a tough spot, for much of the play Ben is very supportive of his brother's lifestyle. He fights with him a lot and even says he considers Ned to have some sort of mental illness. After Ben buys a 2 million dollar home him and Ned have a big argument ending with Ned claiming that he'll never speak to him again. However towards the end we see a glimpse of hope when they come together after Felix dies.